Iranian steelmaker Natanz Steel is to commission a new rolling mill, which will have an annual capacity of 600,000 mt for the production of wire rod, by the end of 2009.
Natanz Steel already has a long steel rolling capacity of 1.5 million mt per year, which is mainly used for rebar production.
In early 2008 the producer in question commissioned the first phase of its melt shop which has an annual capacity of 220,000 mt. It is capable of producing billets in sizes of 100 x 100 mm, 125 x 125 mm and 150 x 150 mm.
The current shortfall in the producer's billet needs is met by local suppliers such as Khouzestan Steel and also by foreign suppliers, especially from the CIS. In the meantime, Natanz Steel has two other melt shops under construction at present, with annual capacities of 600, 000 mt and 900,000 mt.
Natanz Steel is located on a site of over 1,200 hectares in Natanz county in the central Iranian province of Isfahan.